Government Stalemate & Events

Professor Woodrow Wilson launches into a discussion about the government stalemate and more.

In this episode we delve into the government stalemate as we learn what events transpire in a stalemate (also known as a shutdown).

Government shutdowns generally occur when two houses of Congress (or Congress and the president) cannot agree on a certain topic. These generally are budget related and happen right before a new fiscal  year or before the deadline. It means that all the federal programs and agencies will not have all fund to operate. In this case, it is between the Republican House and the Democrat Senate.

Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan, following guidance released in previous shutdowns and coordinated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The plan identifies which government activities may not continue until appropriations are restored, requiring furloughs and the halting of many agency activities. However, “essential services” – many of which are related to public safety – continue to operate, with payments covering any obligations incurred only when appropriations are enacted.

In prior shutdowns, border protection, in-hospital medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, and power grid maintenance have been among the services classified as essential, while some legislative and judicial staff have also been largely protected. Mandatory spending not subject to annual appropriations, such as for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, also continues. Other example of activities that continue are activities funded by permanent user fees not subject to appropriations such as immigration services funded by visa fees.

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